Folding top for vehicles and other structures



Oct. 7 1924. 1,510,922

' I J. H. CLOYES FOLDING TOP FOR VEHICLES AND OTHER STRUCTURES Original Filed Oct. 8, 1915 INVENTOR.

13522266 f/ C'fayels'.

. A 6% (9% I ATTOR 5Y6 Patented Oct. 7, 1924.

unites srarss PATENT OFFICE;

JAMES H. CLQYES, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIG-NOR T0 THE ASI-ITAIBULA BOW SOCKET CO'MPANY, OF ASHTABULA, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FOLDING-T0]? FOR VEHICLES AND OTHER STRUCTURES.

Original application filed October 8, 1913, Serial No. 794,032. Divided and this application filed March 31, 1922. Serial No. 548,417.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. Cnorns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Bend, county of St. Joseph, and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Tops for Vehicles and Other Structures, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being he-rein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates more particularly to the construction and arrangement of the bows by which the cloth or pliable material forming the weather shield is supported above the vehicle when the top is opened or extended, and which may be folded rearwardly in compact form when the top is lowered. By the novel arrangement and pivoting of these bows the forward bow of the top may. readily be made to extend a considerable distance forward of the point of support of the bow structure, while the forward side and top members are out of the way and form no hindrance or obstruction to the view from inside the vehicle, or obstacle in getting into andout of it. The construction is moreover such that a front windshield and side curtains may be attached to the top with the greatest facility, so as to completely enclose the interior of the vehicle in case of cold or stormy weather. The rails, top and side joints, and props commonly used on buggy, carriage and automobile tops are unnecessary where my invention is employed and may be entirely dispensed with. The object of my invention is to provide a simple, yet strong, efficient and practical vehicle top having the characteristics and advantages mentioned.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related objects, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention. Such disclosed means, however, constitute but one ofthe various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used, other forms of such invention being shown, and such invention'more broadly claimed, in my co-pending application, filed October 8,1913,

Serial No. 7 94,032, out of which the resent application has been required tobe ivided.

In said annexed drawing Figure 1 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly insection, of the specific form of my improved folding top construction which forms the subject matter of the present application, the upper portion of a buggy being shown carrying the top in extended position; and Figure 2 is a simila view showing the top closed.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the different views. It should also be noted that in the present instancethe bow members are composed of pairs of opposite slat irons, to'which, by bolts or other suitable means, are secured the side portions of U-shaped wooden bows constituting the support for the top cover proper. It is of course evident, however, that such bows may be made entirely of metal and each member made integrally if desired.

In the present construction the main bow,

consisting of the slat irons P and the bow P is pivoted to brackets A, that are in turn fixed upon opposite sides of the bodyB of the vehicle. Upon this main bow is pivoted a rear bow made up of the slat irons Q and arepivoted the inner ends of links S, and

to the outer ends of these links are in turn pivoted the slat irons T, to which the'ends of the front bow T are secured, the structure as a whole here constituting an articulated outrigger bow. v

Suitable seats U are secured upon the front of the side portions of the short in termediate bow R to receive the links S when the top is in raised position, and secure the links against lateral displacement, as also preventu ward breaking of the elbows formed by t e jointed side bars of the front or outrigger bow when the top is thus raised or extended. By reason of the elbows thus formed in such side bars said front or outrigger bow, when the top is raised, tends to remain in position, it requiring some effort, even though slight, on the part of the operator, to break the join-t downwardly preparatory to folding the top.

Similar seats V are secured upon the front of the main bow to hold said links S in place when the top structure is closed or folded. Straps L attached to the front bow and adapted to be secured to the body 13 of the vehicle are provided to secure and hold the top in raised position. It is evident that when the straps L are drawn taut the result ant strain upon the bow structure and the fabric of the top will produce a rearward thrust upon the front bow T tending to sup port the bow R, and a similar effect will be produced upon the main bow P, the result being to hold the top securely in raised position, tightly stretching the flexible material which forms the top cover M proper from the point of its attachment at the rear of the body of the vehicle to where it is attached to the front or outrigger bow T.

When it .is desired to lower the top the straps L are unfastened, the links S are swung on the pivots at their inner ends so as to lie adjacent the bow P and engage the seats B. The short intermediate bow R is at the same time folded backwardly so that it and the outrigger bow T may be practically simultaneously brought into parallel relation with said main bow. The latter then swings backwardly upon the rear bow and the entire top is lowered to its position of rest in the top rest 0 fixed to the rear of the vehicle body.

The operation of opening or raising the top is of course the reverse of that just described, and so should require no detailed explanation beyon'dwhat has already been indicated.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

1 therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention.

1. A vehicle top provided with a main how, an articulated outrigger bow pivotally attached to said main bow, and an intermediate bow detachably engaging one of the parts of said outrigger bow and adapted when thus in engagement to limit the amount of bending at the joint between such parts.

A vehicle top provided with a main how, an articulated outrigger bow pivotally aiached to said main bow, and an intermediate bow also pivotally attached to said :nain bow, said intermediate bow detachably engaging one of the parts of said outrigger bow and adapted when thus in engagement to limit the amount of bending at the joint between such parts. i

3. A vehicle top provided with a main bow, an arm pivoted thereto, an outrigger bow pivoted to the" forward end of the arm,

and adapted to form therewith a jointed side ing an upward breaking of the elbow.

5. A vehicle top provided with a main how, a forwardly and upwardly extending bow pivoted to said main bow intermediate its base and top, an arm pivoted to said main bow adjacent to the point of attachment of said forwardly and upwardly extending bow, said arm being adapted in one position to lie parallel with said main bow and in another position to lie parallel with said forwardly and upwardly extending bow, and an outrigger bow pivoted to said arm and adapted to form therewith a jointed side bar having an upwardly extending elbow when said arm is in such first-named position.

6. A. vehicle top provided with a main bow, a forwardly and upwardly extending bow pivoted to said main ,bow intermediate its base and top, an arm pivoted to said main bow directly below the point of at tachment of said forwardly and upwardly extending bow, said arm being adapted in one position to lie parallel with said main bow and in another position to lie parallel with said forwardly and upwardly extending bow, and an outrigger bow pivoted to said arm and adapted to form therewith a jointed side bar having an upwardly extending elbow when said arm is in such first-named position.

7. A vehicle top provided with the main bow, a forwardly and upwardly extending bow pivoted to said main bowintermediate its base and top, an arm pivoted to said main bow adjacent to the point of attachment of said forwardly and upwardly extending bow, said arm being adapted in one position to lie parallel with said main bow and in another position to lie parallel with said forwardly and upwardly extending bow, an outrigger bow pivoted to said arm and adapted to form therewith a jointed side bar having an upwardly extending elbow when said arm is in such first-named position, and seats on said main bowand lOO forwardly extending bow adapted to receive said arm when disposed parallel therewith, respectively.

8. A vehicle top provided with a main bow, a forwardly and upwardly extending bow pivoted to said main bow intermediate its base and top, an arm pivoted to said main bow directly below the point of attachment of said forwardly and upwardly extending bow, said arm being adapted in one position to lie parallel with said main bow and in another position to lie parallel with said forwardly and upwardly extending bow, an outrigger bow pivoted to said arm and adapted to form therewith a jointed side bar having an upwardly extending elbow when said arm is in such first-named position, and seats on said main bow and forwardly and upwardly extending bow adapted to receive said arm when disposed parallel therewith, respectively.

9. A vehicle top provided with a main bow, an arm pivoted thereto, an outrigger bow pivoted to the forward end of the arm and adapted to form therewith a jointed side-bar having an upwardly extending elbow, an intermediate bow between said main and outrigger bows, and means on said intermediate bow for bearing on said side-bar.

10. In a vehicle top, the combination of a main bow suitably attached to the vehicle body, an articulated outrigger bow pivotally attached to said main how, the outer portion of said outrigger bow forming an angle on its lower side with the inner portion of said bow in the extended condition of the latter, thereby causing the longitudinal rearward thrust of the outer portion to tend to raise the innerportion upwardly, and an intermediate bowbetween said main and outrigger bows adapted to inter-engage with the latter, said intermediate bow being maintained in such engaging position by the tension of the top covering between the same and the outer vportion of said outrigger bow and the two ortions of said out rigger bow and sai intermediate bow thereby constituting a rigid truss supporting the forward end of the top covering.

11. A foldable cover-support comprising a "main bow, an outrigger bow, an intermediate bow, and upwardly deflected jointed two-part side-arms pivoted to said main bow and projecting said outrigger bow from and supporting it on said main bow, said intermediate bow resting upon said side-arms.

12. A vehicle top provided with a main bow, an arm pivoted thereto, an outrigger bow pivoted to the forward end of the arm and adapted to form therewith a jointed side-bar having an upwardly extending elbow, an intermediate bow between said main and outrigger bows, and means on said intermediate bow for hearing on said side-bar when the top is extended, said intermediate bow being movable relatively to said side-bar upon folding the top.

13. In a vehicle top, the combination of a main bow suitably attached to the vehicle. body, an articulated outrigger bow pivotally attached to said main bow, the outer portion of said outrigger bow forming an angle on its lower side with the inner portion of said bow in the extended condition of the latter, thereby causing the longitudinal rearward thrust of the outer portion to tend to raise the inner portion upwardly, and an intermediate bow movably support.- ed between said main and outrigger bows adapted to inter-engage with the latter when the top is extended, said intermediate bow being maintained in such engaging position by the tension of the top covering between the same and the outer portion of said outrigger bow, and the two portions of said outrigger bow and said intermediate bow thereby constituting a rigid truss supporting the forward end of the top cover- 14. A foldable cover-support comprising a main how, an outrigger bow, an intermediate bow, and upwardly deflected j ointed two-part side-arms pivoted to said main bow and projecting said outrigger bow from and supporting it on said main bow, said intermediate bow resting upon said side-arms when the top is extended, and being movable relatively to the same upon folding the top.

15. A foldable cover-support comprising a main bow, an outrigger bow, an inter- &

mediate bow, andv jointed two-part sidearms pivoted to said main bow and supporting said outrigger bow, said intermediate bow being movable relatively to said side-arms upon folding the top and adapted to bear upon the same when the top is extended, and said side-arms being deflected upwardly to render them self-sustaining and adapt them to support the cover load transmitted to them through said intermediate bow.

16. A foldable cover-support comprising a main bow, an arm pivoted thereto, an outrigger bow pivoted to the forward end of said arm and adapted to form therewith a jointed upwardly arched two-part side-bar having an upwardly extending elbow, an intermediate bow movably supported between said main and outrigger bows, and means on said intermediate bow for engag ing on said side-bar when the support is extended.

Signed by me this 28 day of March, 1922 JAMES H. owns. 

